Green Lighting for the Dark Months

Now that it is getting darker and we all want to hide under the blankets, a great lighting design for our home cannot only look good, but also helps us feel great and save energy.

Here are some tips of my lighting design experience.

Tip #1. Create Scenes
If you have rooms where the only light is in the middle of the ceiling and the quality of the light is awful; you can add lamps for indirect lighting. Adding a lamp can make the ambiance softer for you. You can choose now if you want lots of light with the one in the ceiling or little light with the lamp only. This is specially important in bedrooms where the small lamps close to the headboard create a more romantic atmosphere.

Tip #2. Corridors do not need a lot of light
Corridors need minimal lighting. I have been using LED light for the corridors, but if you do not want to change the fixtures just get a floor lamp, install a compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb with warm light, and use it for indirect lighting. Choose bulbs that are only 40W or equivalent in CFL. Soft light for corridors is so much better.

Tip #3. Choose your bulbs appropriately
You need to understand how different bulbs work in order to select the right bulb for the different rooms in your home. Fluorescent bulbs take longer to turn on, cannot usually be dimmed, can have a colder light and are considered a hazardous waste because of the minimal amount of mercury in them. Constantly advancing technology has eliminated the flicker in lighting most people remember though.

Incandescent bulbs turn on fast, waist more energy, and have a warmer, more natural light, but can get full spectrum incandescent bulbs now.

LED bulbs save a lot of energy, need a transformer, are more expensive, but last up to 25 years. You can choose the color temperature or even several colors in and LED light.

Tip #3.1 Where to use each bulb.

I recommend CFLs for places where you will have the light on for longer periods of time.
When entering the house you sometimes need one incandescent bulb because it will be on as soon as flick the switch and accidents happen in the few seconds when you do not have the proper light. Using them as indirect accents, where you cannot see them, is the best general application for incandescents. I have used them behind wood pieces where they create a great atmosphere, and are much less expensive then using LED.

Panasonic just came out with their LED BULBS FOR ALL THOSE CAN LIGHTS, and although they are $32 each they last up to 19 years. To spread the cost out, replace your bulbs as they burn out with LED. They consume 6.9W of electricity instead of 75W. In Seattle, I’ve found that Stoneway Electric really know their lighting, especially LEDs, and which manufacturers produce the best quality bulbs.

Tip #4. Spend where it matters.
Full spectrum bulbs in lighting near the dining table and in your desk’s task lamp are a must during the winter season. Yes they use a little more energy, but you will be happier, and happiness is worth paying for where it really matters.

The millions of choices you have for lighting fixtures are amazing in terms of what you can do with light. Choose the right lamp and always consider the bulb it uses, and the intensity of the light you need. What you need for reading is different than what you need for eating.

Tip #5. Candle Lights
Use candle lights every now and then; this is the perfect time of the year to use real candle light. The ambiance created with candlelight is so much warmer that any bulb on the market. Plus there are tons of great quality candles made with natural materials such as palm wax or bee wax. You can be adding aromatherapy to your environment as well. Choose the ones with no paraffin and with natural oils.

Tip #6. Dimm and Save
Replace your switches for dimmers and it will save. I have heard people say that this does not change electric consumption, but I have also been to trade shows where they show you how it does.

I know lighting can be tricky and there are so many technicalities to it. If you wish you had a designer friend to change the lighting in your home contact us, we know how to enhance your space just with great lighting.

Alicia Silva is an Interior Architect specializing in green lifestyles.
To find out more information or to contact us visit Synergy Design Studio or
email info@synergydesignstudio.com.